Golf club head with face insert

Abstract

A golf club head with a face insert that is only partially connected to the body of the golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a face insert wherein the face insert is only connected to the body of the golf club head at specific engagement portions around the perimeter of the face insert while keeping the remainder of the perimeter unengaged. The golf club head disclosed in accordance with the present invention will allow for removal of excessive weight traditionally needed to connect the face insert to the body of the golf club head, therefore improving the performance of the golf club head.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A golf club head comprising:
 a body with an opening defining an internal periphery region and a face insert adapted to be connected to a forward portion of the body around the internal periphery region, 
 wherein the internal periphery region further comprises:
 an engagement portion; and 
 a non-engagement portion, 
 
 wherein the face insert is adapted to be connected to the body at the internal periphery region via the engagement portion and wherein a vibration dampening material is sandwiched between the body and the face insert in at least a portion of the non-engagement portion, wherein the vibration dampening material only fills the non-engagement portion near a sole portion of a perimeter of the face insert, wherein the non-engagement portion defines at least one opening through the club head from an area out in front of the club head to space out behind the club head at a place where the vibration dampening material does not fill the non-engagement portion. 
 
     
     
       2. A golf club head comprising:
 a body with an opening defining an internal periphery region and a face insert adapted to be connected to a forward portion of the body around the internal periphery region, 
 wherein the internal periphery region further comprises:
 an engagement portion; and 
 a non-engagement portion, 
 
 wherein the face insert is adapted to be connected to the body at the internal periphery region via the engagement portion and wherein a vibration dampening material is sandwiched between the body and the face insert in at least a portion of the non-engagement portion, wherein the vibration dampening material only fills in a bottom sole portion of the non-engagement portion, wherein a top portion of the non-engagement portion defines an opening through the club head from an area out in front of the club head to space out behind the club head. 
 
     
     
       3. A golf club head comprising:
 a body with an opening defining an internal periphery region and a face insert adapted to be connected to a forward portion of the body around the internal periphery region, 
 wherein the internal periphery region further comprises:
 an engagement portion; and 
 a non-engagement portion, 
 
 wherein the face insert is adapted to be connected to the body at the internal periphery region via the engagement portion and wherein a vibration dampening material is sandwiched between the body and the face insert in at least a portion of the non-engagement portion, further comprising a separation between the face insert and the body in a second portion of the non-engagement portion, wherein the separation between the face insert and the body defines an opening through the club head from an area out in front of the club head to space out behind the club head. 
 
     
     
       4. An iron-type golf club head comprising:
 a body with an opening defining an internal periphery region and a face insert adapted to be connected to the body around the internal periphery region, 
 wherein the internal periphery region further comprises:
 an engagement portion; and 
 a non-engagement portion, 
 
 wherein the face insert is adapted to be connected to the body at the internal periphery region via the engagement portion, 
 wherein a vibration dampening material fills the non-engagement portion near a sole portion of a perimeter of the face insert, and 
 wherein the non-engagement portion is open through the club head from a front to a back of the club head where the vibration dampening material does not fill the non-engagement portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the face insert is welded to the body at the engagement portion of the internal periphery region.